Sagemont's Little Women focuses on the lives of women and their societal role during the Civil War

Melody Zapata of Western High School

Family squabbles, sisterly moments and a young girl's thirst for adventure filled the stage at Nova Southeastern University in The Sagemont School's solid production of Little Women.

Adapted from Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, which was first published in 1869, Little Women focuses on the lives of women and their societal role during the Civil War. The musical, which first opened on Broadway in 2005, follows the lives of the four March sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy, and their transition from childhood to womanhood. Much of the story, however, is centered on Jo and her dreams of becoming a famous writer to provide for her family.

Angel Martinez, who played Jo March, did a splendid job of carrying the show as the lead actress. She wove together the tender moments of the piece with her endearing facial expressions, especially in the scenes shared with the other sisters, and her movements and posture correctly characterized the tomboy-like nature of Jo. She added energy and charisma that other members of the cast lacked in.

Rebecca Jordan made a memorable addition to the cast in her part as Meg, the eldest and most romantic of the March sisters. Her commitment to the character was shown in the way she delivered her lines and carried herself on stage. She also made strong connections to the other characters, especially Mr. John Brooke (Bruno Paes-Leme). The audience witnessed a heartwarming moment when they beautifully executed the song “More Than I Am,” in which Mr. Brooke proposed to Meg.

Amanda Jimenez’s part of Marmee March, the backbone of the family, was carefully developed from the beginning to the end of the show. Jimenez’s tone and voice quality tessellated well with the wise words that Marmee often gave to her daughters, particularly in “Days of Plenty,” when she encouraged Jo to keep following her dreams and not let the death of her sister Beth hold her back.

Many of the most emotional and heightened moments of the show seemed to be deficient in energy and character commitment which affected the overall mood of the show, but the cast did a great job in remaining focused, which is easier said than done when performing in a black box theatre.

The carefully constructed props used by actors in various scenes added to the creative set and stayed true to the time period. The music cues were consistent throughout the show and contributed to the flow of the show.

The Sagemont School’s production of Little Women was touching and an overall entertaining experience that reminded us to never lose hope in what we wish to accomplish.